Ministry-To-Children

100% Free Children's Ministry Resources

  • Christmas Resources

Sunday School Lessons for Kids

Start your planning with our 100% free Sunday School lessons for kids. You’ll find thousands of Bible lesson plans and activities to teach in your church. Below is what we recommend for this week. You can also search by scripture, Bible story, or theme.

Featured Sunday School Lessons

Christmas Sunday School Lessons

Christmas Sunday School Lessons

Choose from over 30 lesson plans to teach the biblical story of Christmas for kids. Perfect for the current Advent season.

Lectionary Reference for this Sunday

100% Free Sunday School Curriculum

New Curriculum for 2020

Gods Rules Ten Commandments for Kids Lesson Study

Sunday School Lessons: God’s Good Rules

12-Week Study based on the Ten Commandments for Kids

This new Bible curriculum includes coloring pages, games, and craft ideas for each lesson. Kids will discover the truth of God’s law, their trouble to obey, and the free salvation Jesus offers on account of the cross.

New & Updated Lessons for 2019

42 week Sunday school curriculum on the attributes of God

Sunday School Lessons: What is God Like?

42 unit study based on the Attributes of God for kids

One of the most important tasks of anyone in charge of children’s ministry is that of deciding what truth to teach the children under your care. In my years as a children’s ministry director it was one task that I took very seriously. There were so many things I wanted the children in our church to know, but as I listed them out, they all boiled down to the gospel: who is God?, who is man? and what did Jesus do? With these three simple questions and spiritual guidelines in mind I started forming our children’s materials.

32 lessons from the Psalms about praising God

Praise God through the Psalms

32 Sunday School Lessons based on the Book of Psalms

God deserves praise! That’s why the book of book of Psalms is a wonderful example of spiritual worship. This 32 lesson curriculum will help children understand and experience the character of God and respond with praise.

Lesson plans on following Jesus

Sunday School Lessons: The Walk

4-week practical training for kids on following Jesus.

This study is filled with practical help for kids as they learn to follow after Jesus and experience his power in daily life. All the lessons are available 100% free using the links below.

Armor of God curriculum for kids Sunday School

Sunday School Lessons: How To Win Against Sin

9-week curriculum for training kids in the Armor of God

The Armor of God is a great passage of Scripture to teach to children. It is visual and has immediate, real world applications for them. The 9 lesson unit covers Ephesians 6 verse 10-20. It is entitled “How to Win Against Sin” because our real battle is against sin, and with Jesus, we can win.

Sunday School curriculum on the Lord s prayer

The Lord’s Prayer (includes coloring book)

10-lesson Sunday School curriculum based on the Jesus’ model prayer

Use our 10 part study to teach the Lord’s Prayer for Kids from Matthew 6 verse 9-13. In many churches, kids will memorize and recite this passage as a foundation for spiritual habits of prayer. Our curriculum and printables will reinforce that process and help kids discover the meaning in each petition of Jesus’ model prayer.

Parables of Jesus lesson plans

Parables of Jesus 

9-unit curriculum based on the teachings of Jesus

Kids learn best through storytelling (just like the first disciples) – that’s why teaching the parables of Jesus is perfect for Sunday School and Junior Church. This 9 lesson curriculum is 100% free to download an teach. Every verse of the Bible is important but the words of Jesus offer spiritual power for all disciples to obey.

Already have a theme or Bible story in mind? Use our search tool to find the teacher guides, lesson activities, curriculum, crafts, and for your class. We post Sunday’s lessons from the International Sunday School Lesson – Uniform Series. You will also see Bible studies based on the Gospel reading in the Revised Common Lectionary.

Kids’ Sunday School Lessons & Resources

  • Life of Jesus (10 lessons – discover the way Jesus minister to the people and offers his salvation to all)
  • Fruit of the Spirit (9 lesson studies for kids to discover the spiritual fruits)
  • Days of Creation – Sunday School Lesson (studies on the truth about the beginning of the world, includes creation coloring pages and printable paperback mini-book)
  • Toddlers Knowing God (8 lessons for training the nursery in the basics of God’s character to start their faith strong)
  • Book of James (5 studies lessons on this practical New Testament book)

Age Specific Curriculum

Education Activities for Sunday School

  • Kings of Israel (28 studies, includes the history of King David and an account of the struggle of the Hebrews to obey God’s covenant.)
  • Book of Acts (34 unit curriculum will examine the history of the disciples & early Church leaders. Discover how the Holy Spirit was working in the creation of the Church.)
  • Sanctity of Life (5 lessons – key verse studies that examine the gift of life in God’s creation and address contemporary issues with God’s truth)
  • Tough Questions Kids Ask (9 lessons -address the big spiritual questions with the truth from the Bible. Examine and discover how to obey God’s Word in modern life.)
  • Bible Organization (3 lessons – ideal for classes of new believers)
  • Object Talk Messages (200+ lessons) includes sample audio video multimedia teaching examples. Follows the current year cycle of 52 weeks curriculum.

Seasonal Curriculum & Holidays Lessons

Our Sunday School curriculum has special holiday lessons. Chose from the list of teacher guides and studies below:

About our Digital Studies

Because all our teacher guides are free online in digital download & print – you never need to order samples. Just click through to the lesson and select the PDF download of the curriculum. Even if you purchase paperback curriculum on a regular cycle, our Sunday School lesson can give help buildup your studies with Bible based ideas. When you add our studies to your regular planning, you’ll become a stronger teacher.

Please email us if you have any suggestions if you or minister leaders have ideas to improve these classes.

Free Sunday School Curriculum from Other Websites

Bible Education Resources & Curriculum Online

The following websites have a good selection of free Sunday School curriculum for children. Many Christian education companies offer printed editions of for sale. However, there is plenty of free help to keep you busy for many months.

The index by scripture reference is a work in progress. For each book of the Bible you will find a variety of lessons, crafts, coloring pages and more. Some books will have more content than others. This index is not exhaustive because we’re tagging materials as we update them throughout 2019. It’s a new way to browse our content. Like all the resources on Ministry-To-Children, our Sunday School Curriculum is 100% free and easy print for your church.

Bible Reference Index (Alphabetical) New & Old Testament

  • Christmas Coloring Pages for Kids Browse the images below to find the best free printable Christmas coloring pages for your kids. Every picture below is available as JPEG and easy print PDF formats. You kids will love decorating the house leading with these cute holiday coloring page activities. Our website had hundreds of 100% free activities for kids. Here are a few of the most popular for the holiday season. 10-Best-Christmas-Coloring-PagesDownload PDF The following images are included in the download, be sure to scroll down to see our larger download packs including 50+ more Christmas & Advent coloring sheets. Free Printable Christmas Coloring Pages for Kids 24 Page Advent Coloring Book *12/5/19 corrected the files to fix the blank pages bug on iPhone & iPad. 23 pg Themes of Advent Coloring BookDownload Christmas themed coloring sheets in easy print PDF format. You can find even more Advent coloring pages on our sister website Sunday School Works! Countdown to Christmas Coloring Pages for Kids Countdown to Christmas Coloring Calendar PDFDownload Have fun marking down the days until Christmas Eve with this printable sheet for children. Christmas Coloring Pages for Preschoolers Preschooler Coloring Sheet – Christmas AngelDownload This simple option is ideal for preschoolers and pictures one of the Christmas angels announcing the Good News. Printable Christmas Tree for Coloring Christmas Tree Coloring Page PDF –Download This simple Christmas tree coloring page is ideal for preschoolers. Use the link above to download the printable PDF or click the image for the JPEG version. Merry Christmas Coloring Pages Merry Christmas Tree & Presents Coloring Page PDFDownload This printable is more complex and would work well for older elementary or adults who prefer to use colored pencils. Jesus Nativity Coloring Page Name “Jesus” in the Manger Coloring Page PDFDownload This printable has the name “Jesus” in block letters sitting in a manger. It can be printed with or without the Bible verses. Christmas Manger Printables PDF Coloring Page: Holy Family at the Manger Download This illustration shows Mary and Joseph watching over the newborn Baby Jesus in the Manger Christmas Coloring Pages. Advent Calendar Coloring Book Download this entire 24 page Advent calendar coloring book that counts down to Christmas day. *12/5/19 corrected the files to fix the blank pages bug on iPhone & iPad. 25 pg Advent-Calendar-Coloring-BookDownload Many families count down the days to Christmas. We made this printable project for kids to color each day theme and scripture as they get closer. Themes of Advent Coloring Book Peace of Advent Coloring SheetDownload This is one of our many Advent coloring pages for the Christmastime season. Adult Coloring Pages for Christmas We are working to bring more Christmas coloring pages for adults, but since we’re a children’s ministry website that is slow coming. Most readers feel like our pages are complex enough to keep grown-ups engaged in simple arts and crafts time. Please leave a comment with your feedback. December Calendar for Coloring PDF Coloring Calendar for DecemberDownload This is part of our months of year coloring book, featuring the month of December fill-in calendar printable. Santa Says Follow Jesus Coloring Cartoon Jesus and Santa Cartoon Coloring PrintableDownload Santa reminds kids to listen to Jesus cartoon printable. He says “Hear HIM” not me” This is a great reply to anyone who does like printed images of Santa. Printable Cards for Christmas Printable Thank You Cards to ColorDownload This is a good habit for kids after they finish opening their Christmas presents to send hand colored thank you notes to their family. This is one is more complex and could be a part of larger craft project. Something a little silly, but coloring should be fun for kids, youth, and adults. Bonus Christmas Coloring Pages: We cound’t list them all here on one page. So follow these links to get more activity sheets to print. Winter Coloring Page Nativity Christmas Coloring Page – Jesus is HERE Baby Jesus is the Savior Printable Angles Sing Over Bethlehem PDF Shepherds in the Fields Christmas coloring page Candy Cane Poem about Jesus As always, we hope you enjoy our free resources. We know there are thousands of other websites that offer free Christmas coloring pages. We hope that you will take a moment to share our site on Facebook or Pinterest You can also leave a reply below to tell us how the final printed coloring pages looked. It helps more people discover our materials and is an encouragement to our continued work.
  • Advent Sunday School Lesson (Luke 2:8-20) The Bethlehem Shepherds Use this Sunday School lesson leading up to Christmas to share the story of the Bethlehem Shepherds with the children in your church. The download below includes the complete lesson plan, game ideas, craft suggestions, and coloring pages. It’s ready to print and kick start your Advent Sunday School lesson. Bethlehem Shepherds Complete Lesson PDFDownload Advent Lesson on the Bethlehem Shepherds Sunday School Lesson on Luke Chapter 2 Verses 8-20 In Nativity Noteworthies: Heroes of the Christmas Story (Celebrated and Lesser-Known) See the first study in these series on Lesson: Elizabeth and the Birth of John the Baptist. There are a lot of great truths to take from the story of Jesus’ birth. There are also a great many clichés and worn-out elements of the Nativity narrative. In this series, we will encounter several characters and look at the story through the lens of various perspectives. Some of these figures are already well-known, but others will be among the unsung heroes, at least for many people. Lessons will highlight who they are and their significance to the life of Christ and to our lives today. The focus of this lesson is the shepherds, who were first to receive the news of Christ’s birth. In these humble sheep caretakers we see God revealing Himself to average everyday people, and recognize that Jesus came for everyone. We also note the reaction of the shepherds, who were immediately full of joy and enthusiasm. Character focus: Bethlehem shepherds, first century pasture. We don’t know the exact number present, but it is likely they were simple people, not very well off, and in great need of a bath. The monotony of their lamb-guarding duties was broken up by a heavenly host of angelic voices announcing the birth of a Savior.   Passage: Luke Chapter 2:8-20 Importance in the Nativity: God chose to announce the birth of Jesus to a pack of farmers on the outskirts of a tiny town. The shepherds were quick to follow the angelic directions, and they were also quick to spread the news to others around them. Significance to us: We ought to rejoice and be glad at what God has done. Not only do we quickly listen and follow His instructions, but we should make it known to others that He is mighty and wonderful! Materials Needed for this lesson: Paper, decorative materials, coffee filters, cups, glitter, pipe cleaners, paper plates, stapler. Bonus Ideas: Don’t miss all our Christmas lessons for Children and Christmas Coloring Pages See the Christmas Shepherds and Angels Crafts and Nativity Craft Video we also have some fun sheep Bible crafts Compare our Nativity Object Lessons for Advent Children’s Sermons For a simple printable option, use the Angels and Shepherds coloring pages Compare our other free lesson on the Shepherds of Luke 2:8-20 and the full length Sunday School Lesson from Luke 2:1-20 Additional Advent Season Fun: “The Shepherd on the shelf”…. Try this fun twist on the classic “Elf on the Shelf” craze. Adapt your Advent watchman into one of the Nativity characters! Create a paper bag, sock, or hanging puppet and name it after one of the features of the Christmas story (shepherd, angel, Magi, etc.). Move your puppet daily and remind children of the important parts of the Nativity. This is also a helpful reminder that God is always watching! Lesson Introduction / Game Lesson Opening: This lesson focuses on the shepherds who came to meet Jesus. It also involves light, sound, and a joyous announcement. Consider the following opening activities, adjusting to available timing and audience: Round up the sheep! Play a sheep game to introduce the topic of shepherds. Divide kids into teams. Scatter cotton balls around the room, and challenge students to run around picking up the cotton balls and placing them in a designated cup (one cup per team). The catch is that they can only use a clothespin to grab the cotton balls, and the other hand must remain behind their backs. This activity can be done as a relay race or a free-for-all, as space allows. Sing-off: Split kids into two groups. Challenge them to a singing match of the song “Halle-lu, Halle-lu, Halle-lu, Hallelujah/Praise Ye the Lord”, taking turns standing up when each phrase is uttered. See who can sing with the most gusto. Shadow charades: pull up a sheet with a flashlight behind it (representing the light of the angels). Have students place hands in front of the sheet and challenge them to make fun shadow shapes. Other students can guess what the shapes represent. Puzzle relay: in honor of the shepherds running around town to “relay” a message, have students complete a relay race in teams, running across the room to pick up their “message.” This message will be various jigsaw puzzles. As students race to pick up pieces, the team can put the puzzle together. See which team can be first to complete the puzzle. Explain to kids that today they will be hearing about some more people in the Bible who received very important messages. These were shepherds, and they received some important and wonderful news. Lesson: Shepherds of Bethlehem for Kids Begin by talking a bit about shepherds. What is a shepherd, and what does a shepherd do? Discuss historical and current shepherds (yes, they still exist), and how important it is to take care of sheep. Sheep are not always the smartest creatures, and they need a guide who is willing to guard and care for them. Invite students to brainstorm any times or people in the Bible who were shepherds…Hint, consider: David was a shepherd before he became king Joseph and his brothers were shepherds Moses was a shepherd when God called him Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd So it must be that God has a special place in His heart for shepherds. Well, in spite of some famous flock friends in the Old Testament, the shepherds at the time of Jesus’s birth were probably not very popular or well-off. They likely were humble, not well-regarded, and not well-educated. One night these guys were out in the field watching their animals, like they did every other night, when something remarkable happened: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. -Luke 2:8-9 Imagine, boredom and absolute darkness…and then suddenly a huge light appears out of nowhere!! It’s no wonder the shepherds were ready to soil their loin cloths… Many times in the Bible, angel visits are met with fear, and it makes sense. A sudden vision of a Holy host would be surprising if not disconcerting. Ask children what they might think or feel if a huge Heavenly light suddenly appeared. These shepherds probably did act a bit nervous, because the first thing the angel told them was not to fear: And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest,     and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  -Luke 2:10-14 This is especially important to note. It is not too often in the Bible we see a “multitude of heavenly host”. Angels often come one at a time to relay messages, but here there is a whole band of celestial beings giving praise to God. Clearly, this was a spectacular and special announcement. And they were giving the message to plain old shepherds! They were practically janitors or garbage men of the first century! When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  -Luke 2:15-17 So how do the shepherds react to this announcement? After a certain initial shock, they suddenly rush to find the holy family. Now, one has to wonder if they left the sheep or took the baa-ing herd with them. Scripture doesn’t say, but it likely is not significant one way or another. The important thing is that the shepherds “went with haste”, eager to see what the angels were talking about. They didn’t doubt or question, but ran to find Jesus. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.    -Luke 2:18-20 So after finding Jesus, what do the Shepherds do? It’s particularly important to note this, actually. They visited Jesus, but did not merely hop back out into the sheep field. We see that they did return, but they were not the same as they had been. They “made known the saying that had been told them”, proclaiming to others what they had seen and heard and letting everyone know the wonderful news. Then they glorified and praised God, grateful that the news had been given them and that they could receive such amazing and blessed proclamation. It’s also helpful to remember that Jesus is not only the “good Shepherd” who is willing to know His sheep and lay down His life for them…He is also the sacrificial lamb. It’s possible that some of the sheep these guys tended might have been used for temple sacrifices. So the baby they visited in the manger would one day be the ultimate sacrifice for all people… And what are we to take away from this story? We see that Jesus came for ALL people, and God cares about and shares His love with all people. We also note the reaction that the shepherds had, and which we can also have. Not only do we hear the story with joy and grateful praise, but we want to share the news with others, and to glorify God in all we say and do. That’s something that lasts all the year through! Close the lesson with prayer and thank God for loving us and coming to die for us. Thank Him for Biblical examples that paved the way for us, and ask for guidance in pointing the way to Christ. Pray for hearts open to His word and service throughout the season. 3 Craft Ideas: Angel or Shepherd Celebration    Angels lend themselves to some great crafts, but the shepherds can have fun, too! Try these out for some angelic craft-ability. The craft directions are included in the lesson plan above: Angels-and-Shepherds-Crafts PDFDownload https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkAk9uFbsBo Angels and Shepherds Crafts for Christmas in Your Sunday School class.  “Angelic Plate”  “Cup of Gladness” Angel  “Shepherd Staff” Angels & Shepherds Sunday School Coloring Page These Christmas Angels and Shepherds coloring pages are also included in the single download lesson plan above. Don’t miss all our Advent Coloring Pages.
  • Christmas Angels & Shepherds Crafts for Sunday School Download this classic craft ideas for Christmas Sunday School that feature angels & shepherds. Don’t miss all our Christmas Crafts for Sunday School. Use the link below to download the printable instructions and then watch the demonstration video below. Angels-and-Shepherds-Crafts-for-Christmas-PDFDownload https://youtu.be/FkAk9uFbsBo Tidings of Joy! Craft Ideas for The Shepherds and Angels The Nativity story of the shepherds receiving good news is an exciting and tremendously joyous one. It lends itself to great songs and wonderful exclamations…as well as some fun craft possibilities! Angels are always quite craft-able, and these simple options can be used for all ages, and double as fun ornamentation, too. For the shepherd staff, you may wish to add an extra element of fun by inserting a candy cane within the pipe cleaners. You might also wish to create a sheep craft to accompany the shepherds! See all our Advent and Christmas Coloring Pages for kids See all our Sunday School Lessons for Christmas and Christmas Crafts Don’t miss our printable Advent Coloring pages and Christmas Sunday School Lessons & Activities for kids Bible Verses and Craft Captions to Consider… Christ has come…rejoice! The angels sang…the shepherds ran…the world celebrated a new kind of king! “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  -Luke 2:10-11  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. “Glory to God in the highest,     and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” -Luke 2:14 Craft one: “Angelic Plate” Craft supplies you will need: Scissors Paper plates Construction paper Glue, tape, or stapler Markers or crayons (optional) Hole puncher Pipe cleaner or string Directions & Procedure: Decorate the plate with markers to make an angel face. You can add google eyes and a paper mouth as well, if desired. Cut one paper plate in half to create “wings” for the angel. Decorate wings, if desired. Add glitter if you’re feeling brave. Attach the wings behind the angel’s face. A stapler is recommended, but glue or tape would work as well. Punch a hole at the top of the angel and attach a string or pipe cleaner “halo.” This doubles as a hanging device! Craft Two: “Cup of Gladness” Angel Craft supplies you will need: Scissors Tape, glue, or stapler Styrofoam or paper cups Decorative materials Pipe cleaners Coffee filters Jingle bell (optional) Directions & Procedure: 1. Decorate the cup to be an angel, using markers or stickers for a face and features.2. Fold a coffee filter in half to make wings (or use paper or cupcake liners if desired).  3. Attach the “wings” with a stapler, tape, or glue. 4. Insert a pipe cleaner into the top of the angel for a “halo” and hanger. *Option: add a jingle bell for fun and festive noise!5. Attach a verse or caption. Display your angel and make a joyful noise! Craft Three: “Shepherd Staff” Craft supplies you will need: Pipe cleaners (assorted colors) Candy cane (optional) Directions & Procedure: Allow students to select at least three pipe cleaners in their choice of colors.   Help children twist and braid pipe cleaners together, crossing over in an alternating left/right pattern as a braid.    Wrap around a candy cane, if desired. Hook the pipe cleaners into the shape of a shepherd staff. 5. Attach a verse via hole punch, if desired.    
  • “Shine the Light” Matthew 3:1-12 Children’s Sermon Download this children’s sermon message based on Matthew 3:1-12 that uses a creative object lesson to teach about the role of John the Baptist in pointing people to Christ. Then watch the teaching example video below to prepare to share the children’s moment in your church. Children’s Sermon on Matthew 3:1-12Download Children’s Sermon on Matthew 3:1-12 Shine the Light: John the Baptist and the Importance of Pointing to Christ https://youtu.be/BZfF9rSXmKw Watch this teaching example to prepare this children’s sermon to share with kids at your church. Main Objective: Kids are by nature somewhat self-centered. When doing activities or making goals, it’s easy for them to desire credit and limelight. This message reminds them that our purpose ought to be pointing others to Christ first and foremost. As John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus and pointed to Him, we want everything we do to reflect the love of God and give glory to Him. Law/Gospel Theme: Jesus came to redeem us, and because of Him alone we have life and hope. We want our lives to reflect that joyful understanding, and to share it with others around us. Object Lesson Props & Materials:  Headlamp, flashlight, or other form of light; optional picture of John the Baptist (or see alternative option). Bible Passage: Matthew 3:1-12 Lectionary Reference: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Year A. December 8, 2019 Bonus Ideas: Compare our Sunday School Lesson on John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12) Another Lesson by Kristen on the Baptist of Jesus (Matthew 3:1-17) Download carton illustrations & coloring page of John the Baptist See more Matthew 3:1-12 Sunday School Lessons Message Note: As with most object lessons, how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs. For this message, a flashlight or headlamp is recommended; however, you could also just present yourself in an odd or attention-grabbing way, perhaps shouting in a megaphone or wearing strange clothing.  Shine the Light: Object Lesson (Matthew 3:1-12) Children’s Sermon Greet the children, wearing a headlamp or pointing a flashlight… Hello, children of God!  So you may notice that I have some interesting light shining here…do you know what this is? (Allow child responses) Right, it’s a special headlamp! Now, what do you think the purpose of this tool might be? Why would I use it? (Allow responses) So this can have several great uses. I might use it if I want to walk or run outside when it’s a bit dark. Or maybe I want to go down into a cave or somewhere that does not get much light. Or perhaps I want to look for something, and I need to try pointing out where it is. Or maybe the power goes out in the house, but I still need to see! There are lots of great ways I can utilize this… But let me ask you something else…if I point this light on myself (turn light around), will I be able to see very well? Will the light serve the purpose of showing my way or helping me find something? No, not very well…if I want to use the light, I have to point it at something away from me. You know, that’s what we want to do with our lives. I’ll explain…we want to make sure that what we do is going to point back to God and His amazing work in our lives. Our goal should not be making ourselves look good, but showing people how important Jesus is. That’s what John the Baptist did. Do you know who John the Baptist was? He was born just a few months before Jesus, and he had a special and extremely important job to get people ready for Jesus. He was a little bit interesting. For example, he wore itchy clothes made out of camel’s hair! And how many of you had bugs for breakfast this morning? Well, John ate locusts (kind of like grasshoppers) with honey! He was also a bit loud, and he wasn’t afraid to tell people that what they were doing was wrong. He’d shout things at people sometimes, and was not always too popular because of all this. However, those around him knew he was significant. In fact, they asked him if he was the Messiah that they had been waiting for. They wanted to know if he was the special one. And John was quick to point out that his role was different. He had come to prepare for Jesus, but Jesus was so great John couldn’t even untie His sandals. John pointed to Jesus and told people that He was the one they needed to follow. John got some attention, but his goal was always to show others that their attention should go to Christ. And that’s what we want to do. We want to live in a way that does draw attention, and so that people notice there’s something different and special about us. But we don’t want to keep that spotlight shining on us. Instead, we want to let people know that our lives are different because of Christ. All that we say and do should bring glory to God. We want to let others know how wonderful and full of love He is. We want to point to Jesus. We want to prepare our hearts for Him, and other people’s hearts as well. So as we continue in this Advent season, let’s remember to live joyfully and to share His light with one another! Children’s Prayer Moment (Have kids repeat each line) Dear God, Thank you for coming to Earth for us Help us to live in a way that brings glory to You Help us point others to Christ And shine His light on the world We love you, God! Thank you for Jesus In His name, Amen! Matthew 3:1-12 New International Version (NIV) John the Baptist Prepares the Way 3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,     make straight paths for him.’” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” –Matthew 3:1-12
  • Advent Sunday School Lesson: Elizabeth & the Birth of John the Baptist Download this Sunday school lesson to help children at your church learn more about the story of Elizabeth. Download the printable lesson plan below. Elizabeth: Sunday School Lesson for AdventDownload Advent Lesson on Elizabeth & the Birth of John the Baptist” Sunday School Lesson from Luke Chapter 1 In Nativity Noteworthies: Heroes of the Christmas Story (Celebrated and Lesser-Known) There are a lot of great truths to take from the story of Jesus’ birth. There are also a great many clichés and worn-out elements of the Nativity narrative. In this series, we will encounter several characters and look at the story through the lens of various perspectives. Some of these figures are already well-known, but others will be among the unsung heroes, at least for many people. Lessons will highlight who they are and their significance to the life of Christ and to our lives today. The first encounter in the series is with Elizabeth, miraculous mother to John the Baptist. This lesson looks at who she was and who her son was. The emphasis here is that both Elizabeth and John celebrated and pointed to the Messiah. Character focus: Elizabeth, wife to Zechariah, relative to Mary. She was barren until an old age, at which time she miraculously conceived a very special son. She and her husband (rendered speechless until the birth due to skepticism) named the boy John (by God’s command), and he would become a wilderness prophet one day baptizing Jesus. Passage: Luke Chapter 1, selected passages… this is a lengthy passage, so depending on age range, attention span, and timing of your group, you may opt to paraphrase or read a story version, or you might be able to read the entire chapter bit by bit. Adjust to the needs of your specific audience. Importance in the Nativity: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for part of her pregnancy (likely to try and avoid the glares of people around town…). The two were relatives of some sort, and both were pregnant by a miracle of God—Elizabeth in her old age and Mary in virginity. Mary was visited by Gabriel six months after Elizabeth conceived. When Mary arrived on Elizabeth’s doorstep, the baby in her womb leapt, recognizing who Mary was carrying. Both Elizabeth and her son knew the importance of Jesus. Significance to us: Elizabeth celebrated her relative and was thrilled for her to bear the son of God. John was important in his own right, but was always quick to point to Christ as the true person to be followed. Both were obedient and followed God with dedication and trust. So then, we should also point the way to Jesus, and follow God whatever it takes. Suggested Date: Sunday December 1, 2019 Materials Needed for this lesson: Paper, decorative materials, coffee filters, cups, glitter, pipe cleaners Bonus Ideas: Compare several alternative lessons on this Bible passage from our website The Birth of John the Baptist by Kelly Henderson Preschool Lesson on the Birth of John the Baptist by Brittany Putman Advent Teaching Skit: Interview with Elizabeth Compare our Nativity Object Lessons for Advent Children’s Sermons Download and print our Story of Elizabeth for kids min-reader Don’t miss our other Advent and Christmas coloring pages. See all our free Sunday School lesson for Christmas Sunday School Games, Lesson Introduction Since this story is about giving and receiving messages, it’s a great opportunity to feature some classic communication games! Consider things like… (Younger students) Charades, with a word whispered in a child’s ear to act out in front of the other kids. This game is great for any age, and can be made more or less difficult depending on the categories and hints used. (Any age) Pictionary. Write or whisper a word or phrase, and have students draw it on a paper or white board for others to guess. (Any age) Telephone: Always a hit, in this game, one person starts a message by whispering into the ear of the person next to them. This continues around the circle, until the phrase makes it back to the original speaker to see if and how it changed. (Older) Picto-phone: this is a hybrid of “telephone” and “Pictionary.” Students receive a stack of papers or note cards. They will begin by writing a word or phrase. Every student will then pass the entire stack to the person next to them. That person reads the phrase, moves the card to the back of the pile, and draws a picture representing the phrase. The pile moves again, and the next person looks at the picture, moves the card to the back, and writes what they think the picture represents. This continues, alternating drawing and writing, until the pile makes it back to the first writer, who can watch how the story transformed. Sculpt it out: add an extra dimension of difficulty to the charades/Pictionary guessing game by providing a word that students show using or play-doh! Explain to kids that today they will be hearing about people in the Bible who received very important messages. We will focus on one in particular, who was related to Mary and who also had a significant son. Sunday School Lesson: Elizabeth and the Birth of John the Baptist Introduce the topic by having students brainstorm a list of significant people in the Bible story of Christ’s birth. Likely they will name Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men…have they heard of someone named Elizabeth? Explain that Elizabeth was another hero of the Nativity, in a special way. She was married to a priest named Zechariah, and she was old at the time of the Christmas story, but had never had a baby… For younger students, you may wish to read a story adaptation or paraphrase parts of the text. Older children can take turns reading from the Bible. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. -Luke 1:5-7 Explain that in Bible times, it was very important to people to have children. Not being able to have kids was seen as almost a curse or sign of God’s disapproval. Elizabeth thought she would never give birth because she was old and had never been able to have a child. One day, while her husband Zechariah was in the temple, an angel came to him with a special message: And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” -Luke 1:11-17 What an amazing promise! Zechariah was told that not only would he be able to have a child, but it would be a significant and wonderful child who would turn people toward God! That must have been an exciting message to hear, but Zechariah questioned the possibility of it, since he and Elizabeth were old. In response, the angel told Zechariah that he would not be able to speak until the child was born! Shows what happens when you doubt God… so Zechariah left the temple, unable to talk. But sure enough, Elizabeth became pregnant. When she was six months along, the same angel who had talked to Zechariah appeared to a young woman named Mary…do we know who Mary is?   After Gabriel the angel told Mary she would be giving birth to baby Jesus, he also let her know that her older relative Elizabeth was pregnant. Mary was so excited she went to visit Elizabeth, and something remarkable occurred upon her arrival… In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” -Luke 1:39-45 Elizabeth was still pregnant when Mary came to her, but the baby inside her jumped for joy when she arrived! Just as the angel promised, he “was filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” He knew that Mary was carrying someone greater than anyone: the Messiah, the son of God. Elizabeth could tell what happened, and knew Mary had been given a special purpose. Elizabeth took care of Mary for a little while, and then the time came for her baby to be born: Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. -Luke 1:57-66 Zechariah regained his ability to speak when he demonstrated trust in God by giving his son the name the angel had prescribed. The people around him knew that the child would be something quite special, and Zechariah knew it as well. He sang with gladness to his son, understanding God had an important plan for him… And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;     for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people     in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God,     whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,     to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. -Luke 1:76-80 Ask if students know who this John was. He grew up to be a prophet, wearing strange clothing and living in the wilderness. He gave people messages and told them how to live for God. When Jesus was preparing to enter His earthly ministry, He came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River. The whole time John was living, though, he emphasized that he was not the one people should be looking to for answers. His job was to prepare the way for Jesus. He pointed to Christ, not to himself, assuring others that he wasn’t even worthy to tie the shoes of Jesus (well, sandals. They didn’t have shoelaces then…). So what do we learn from this? It’s not about us! Our job is not to do things that will bring attention to our own strength, but to point the way to Jesus. We want to glorify God with all we do and say. We want to live in a way that seems different and special, but that recognizes the Lord’s supremacy in all things. When others look at us, we want to point to Christ. How can we do that every day?? So in the season of wanting to do more, get more, anticipate Christmas…let’s remember that trusting in God can sometimes mean waiting, or not being certain of what’s coming. But we want to live for Him and for others, serving in every way possible. Close the lesson with prayer and thank God for loving us and coming to die for us. Thank Him for Biblical examples that paved the way for us, and ask for guidance in pointing the way to Christ. Pray for hearts open to His word and service throughout the season. Sunday School Craft Activities: Angel or Name Celebration    Since Gabriel appears to both Mary and Elizabeth in this story, it could be a great opportunity to feature an angel craft, such as: Paper plate angel: Decorate one paper plate with “eyes” and glitter. Cut another plate in half and staple behind the first plate for “wings.” Add a halo or hanger, if desired. Cup ornament: turn a Styrofoam cup into an angel by adding coffee filter wings and a pipe cleaner halo. Add extra string if you’d like to hang from a wall or a tree. OR, since the story has to do with naming someone (John, Jesus), celebrate names. Students can use their own name or pick someone to give a special note to, and make a decorative name plate using markers to make the name colorful and artistic. For extra meaning, create an acrostic poem using the letters of the name. See additional Advent craft ideas Bible & Illustrations Credits for this Lesson Plan Copyright © Ministry-To-Children.com – Permission granted for any non-profit use. Written by Kristin Schmidt . Illustrations from ChristianClipArts.com Scripture quotes from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles
  • Sunday School Lesson (Luke 23:33-43) How Jesus’ Cross Connects to Christmas Use this free Sunday School Lesson on Luke 23:33-43 to mark the end of the church calendar and the beginning of the Advent seasons. Simply download the printable version below. It includes the full lesson plan, craft suggestions, game activities, and bonus coloring pages. Complete Sunday School Lesson Plan PDFDownload How Jesus’ Cross Connects to Christmas Luke 23:33-43 Sunday School Lesson As the season of Advent approaches, it is easy to become caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the anticipation of giving and receiving, and the joy of Christ’s birth. Before that comes, though, we take time to reflect on the reason Jesus came to Earth in the first place. The Sunday before Advent marks the end of the church year, and we look to the cross upon which the Messiah took His final breath. This may seem full of sorrow, but we know that the cross is joy and life to us if we believe what death and resurrection mean. It’s a great reminder for present-hungry youngsters to contemplate what Jesus came to do. Lesson focus: Jesus came to earth as a humble baby, but He ultimately came so that He could die on the cross. In so doing, He saved us from our sin consequences and allows us to live forever with Him! Passage: Luke 23:33-43 Lectionary Reference: REIGN OF CHRIST – PROPER 29 (34) Year C. November 24, 2019 Sunday School Lesson Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (See notes for specific age modifications) Materials Needed: Cross-shaped construction paper or card stock; decorative supplies; beads; string; envelopes; jingle bells; balloons; large paper or poster board; Bibles. Bonus Lesson Ideas: See our preschool lesson on Luke 23:33-43 Jesus is Crucified and He is Risen Lesson plan for kids from Luke 23-24 Get more ideas for your Luke 23:33-43 Sunday School Lessons Bible Worksheet about Jesus, God’s Only Son (included in download above) Sunday School Game Activity to Introduce the Lesson Happy New Year! This might seem out of place, but open the lesson by explaining to kids that this is the last Sunday in the “church year”. See if they can name any of the seasons in the church year (Lent, Pentecost, etc.). Explain that Advent, which is about to start, is the beginning of the church year. But today we are both looking ahead and looking at the end of something. In honor of “new year”, play a couple of opening games that might also be features of an end of year celebration: (Younger students) Balloon races or balloon volley: have kids blow up a balloon, and release it before tying off. See whose balloon goes the farthest! Or provide each child with a balloon and bat them around, trying to keep their balloon in the air as long as possible. (Any age) random countdown: without looking at any clocks, have students try to guess when an exact minute ends. Tell them the start time, but let them guess by raising hands when they think a minute (or longer) is up. (Older) How many can you juggle? Also using balloons, have each student blow up 3-4 balloons, and try to keep them in the air as long as possible. Minute to win it, cup transfer: Give each student a long straw or stir stick. Without using hands, see how many Cheerios students can move from a bowl into a cup. Only the straw may be used.  Minute to win it, jingle bell style: place jingle bells in several boxes (shoe boxes or tissue boxes), putting 1-7 bells in each. Have students race to put the boxes in order according to how many bells are in each. These might have seemed like silly games, but explain that today we are going to discuss something that is actually quite serious, though also joyful. As they prepare to dive into Scripture, remind students of the upcoming Advent and Christmas season soon to be upon them. Sunday School Lesson (Luke 23:33-34) Jesus is the Best Gift Start out by talking with children about Christmas upcoming…ask what some of their favorite gifts have been, and what they are hoping to receive or looking forward to getting this year. How about giving…do kids think about or enjoy giving others gifts? What are some great things they have given people in the past?  Explain that today we will be discussing the greatest gift ever given…do students know what it is? As Advent approaches, we talk about the birth of Jesus. This was important, and essential to understanding how God fulfilled His promises to us and granted a savior. But why did Jesus come? Invite students to look into the story of Christ’s crucifixion. For younger students, you may wish to read a story adaptation. Older children can take turns reading from the Bible. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  -Luke 23:33-34 Jesus had been convicted of crimes, even though He did nothing wrong. He was brought out to die a criminal’s death, a death on a cross. But even while His killers were preparing this, He asked God to forgive them! This was a dark time for Jesus… And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” -Luke 23:35-38 People were mocking Jesus, making fun of Him, taking His clothes, saying all sorts of mean things. Ask students if any of them have ever been teased or bullied. It doesn’t feel good! Jesus knows this. He was ridiculed and hated and tormented, but He let it happen. He could have come down from the cross and shown those naysayers who He truly was. But He stayed. He suffered so that we wouldn’t have to! He knows what it is like to hurt, and understands our pain and sorrow, because He hurt too. So why did Jesus go through all of this? Remind kids why it was necessary for Him to die. He took on our punishment. We do bad things, and really we deserve the consequence of death. Because Jesus, who didn’t do bad things, died instead, we can rest assured we’ll go to Heaven. And what does it take to go to Heaven and be with Jesus? Only faith in who Christ is! One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” -Luke 23:39-43 Jesus died for everyone. Not just people we might think are “good” or “bad”, but everyone. We all mess up and do things wrong, but Christ loves us anyway. He wanted His accusers and tormentors to be forgiven. He told the repentant man next to Him that He was forgiven, also. This is what He came to Earth for. It’s great to rejoice in His birth and coming. But let’s not forget why He came. The grace of God and salvation in Jesus should make us rejoice every day. We know that this is the greatest gift we could hope for! It can’t be wrapped or boxed up, exactly, but it is a blessing and a beautiful thing. God loves us enough to die. He wants us to be with Him eternally. Jesus promised life. What an amazing present! Close the lesson with prayer and thank God for loving us and coming to die for us. Pray for hearts open to His word and service throughout the season. Sunday School Coloring Pages Here are some suggested Sunday School coloring pages from our website, we’ve included them in the easy print PDF lesson plan above. J is for Jesus, from our Free Bible Alphabet Coloring Pages C is for Christ, from our Printable Bible Alphabet Coloring Pages Coloring Pages Jesus Crucified on Good Friday and Jesus the best Gift (included in the PDF download above) Candy Cane Poem about Jesus (another activity to show how Christmas relates to the cross of Jesus) No gift compares to Jesus – coloring pages for Sunday School kids J is for Jesus, from our Free Bible Alphabet Coloring Pages C is for Christ, from our Bible Alphabet Coloring Pages Craft: Cross celebration or Advent Preparation  Cross Crafts for Sunday School You may choose to focus on the element of the cross, or on the upcoming Advent season. Here are a few activities to consider as possibilities: Decorative cross: allow students to color and decorate a paper or cardboard cross, adding color and verses. This can be hung on pipe cleaner or string to mount. Bracelets: bead bracelets are a classic way to remember the story, or just have a special craft. Use colors with representative meaning (red for Christ’s blood, black for the dark night, white for our sins washed clean) to contemplate what the story was all about. Advent calendar: help students brainstorm ways that they can be helpful or do something special for Advent season. Write these down on note cards or slips of paper, and place each one in an envelope. Glue or tape envelopes onto larger poster board, and decorate as desired. Open one each day leading up to Christmas (This might be a good one to do if you have extra time, helpers, or families working together to finish). Don’t miss our painted cross craft from Easter with video demonstration. Sunday School Worksheet about Jesus This printable Sunday School worksheet about Jesus God’s Son is helpful for older children in you Sunday School class.

Latest Sunday School Lessons & Curricula for Churches

Who are the Major Christian Education Publishers?

LifeWay Christian Resources: Long knows as the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, LifeWay is a leading publisher of Baptist materials and curriculum for churches.

Group Publishing: An independent publisher of Sunday School curriculum, Christian Magazines, and Vacation Bible School.

Cokesbury & Abingdon Press: The traditional publisher of the United Methodist Church. Cokesbury is the retail division of the United Methodist Publishing House. Based in Nashville, TN, Cokesbury serves as an agency of the United Methodist Church but serves also as an ecumenical resource provider to other denominations.

Regular Baptist Press (RBP): Is the publishing company for the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), established in 1932 is one of several Baptist groups in North America retaining the name “Regular Baptist”.

Standard Publishing is a nondenominational Christian publishing company founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1872. Major publications have included its flagship journal, Christian Standard, and church education materials including Vacation Bible School curricula. In 2015, Standard Publishing became an imprint of David C. Cook when the latter acquired the company’s Bible lesson commentary series, Sunday school curriculum and other church resources.

David C. Cook: An American nonprofit Christian publisher based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was founded as a provider of Sunday school curriculum and remains a major publisher of such materials. It also publishes fiction and nonfiction books and distributes supporting materials like toys and games.

[Total: 17    Average: 4.9/5]

Reader Interactions